Rose Enders, age 69, of Jenison, Michigan, passed away on Tuesday, July 31, 2018. Memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 4, 2018 at Cook Memorial Chapel (East building), 4235 Prairie Street, SW, Grandville, Michigan. Burial will be at a later date in Winner, SD.
Rose was born in West Point, Nebraska, on June 15, 1949 to Richard (Dick) and Magdalene (Meg) Doescher (Heinecke). She was the oldest of eight children: Richard (Bev), Randy (Linda), Ronda (Harland), Judy (Jack), Cheryl, Tom, and Chris (Lisa). Her parents lived across north central Nebraska and south central South Dakota. Rose graduated from Winner High School in 1967.
In March of 1969, Rose married Joey Leo Enders in Winner, SD. They made their home in Massachusetts as Joe finished his Air Force commitment. After the Air Force, they initially made their home in Yankton, SD as Rose pursued her education at Yankton College, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education. She subsequently also received her Master’s Degree from California Lutheran as she and Joe pursued their life dreams in southern California.
Joe and Rose moved from life in the sun to Western Michigan to accept new life challenges. Rose worked as an educator for the next 40 years spending her energy building self-esteem with disadvantaged youth in the inner city of Grand Rapids. Rose literally loved her work, which went beyond the normal commitment or dedication . Rose taught, coached, and mentored many children which all had special places in her heart. Joe and Rose welcomed children into their lives and home, making each child feel accepted, special and loved. Rose’s desire to make all children feel cared for can’t be understated; just look at the Facebook page blow up’s.
Rose’s legacy in the Grand Rapids Public Schools will be foundational, as all that she cared about was building children’s self esteem and mentoring those students down an avenue to find a better way of life. Rose was compassionate, firm, and strict, but always putting herself at risk to make sure her students were cared for and could see a positive way forward in life. Rose’s legacy is carried forward with the love that she displayed daily to her children (students).
Rose’s other passion was to care for her namesake rose gardens. She was fabulous at taking care of her plants and competing and judging shows across the central United States. Rose won many ‘best of show’ and would want to be remembered as a kind soul and being reunited with her lifelong love, Joe.
Rose’s and Joe’s special adoptions were Joyce (John) Jefferson and their children Jonte and Mya along with Takeia Sherman and her daughter Khyleice Grover.
Rose was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, both parents, and brother Richard.
She is survived by her siblings (except Richard) and Joe’s sister Jana (Paul) Kemp.
In lieu of flowers or contributions, please consider donating school supplies to your local schools.
Peace be with our sister, aunt, friend, mentor and confidant who always cared more for her acquaintances than she cared for herself. Let’s celebrate Rose’s life legacy. Rest in peace our beautiful sister.
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